Staff

Elizabeth Bell, Executive Director

Liz has dedicated the majority of her career to non-profit organizations, while also working to maximize the potential of her three children–researching, networking and advocating, especially, for her son with autism, epilepsy, and other health conditions. Her work has spanned science, services, and artistic creation, matching the three programmatic areas of JKBF.

Prior to joining JKBF, Liz served in a variety of roles as board member, committee member, grant reviewer, chapter leader, fundraising walk co-chair, expert panelist, contributing science writer, and parent advocate for organizations including the Autism Society of America, Cure Autism Now, Autism Speaks, the Autism Treatment Network, and Ascendigo Autism Services. She was appointed to the California Blue Ribbon Commission for Autism (2006) and served as an appointed member of the NJ Governor’s Council for the Medical Research and Treatment of Autism (2010-2017) where she was instrumental in formulating grant programs, reviewing grants, and making scientific research funding decisions. Liz serves on the Board of Directors of The Arc of the Central Mountains.

With a creative spirit and interest in design, Liz entered the art world in a support role when it became evident that her special needs son had a talent for painting, and that time spent with a brush was often his most peaceful and fulfilling. Liz was a founding Trustee, Secretary, and Co-President of the Hopewell Valley Arts Council, a grassroots nonprofit arts organization that celebrates art in the everyday. Liz founded Chance on Main, a ‘for-purpose’ retail store in Pennington, NJ, which featured products of social enterprises and creations of local artisans and individuals with a variety of special needs. She serves on the Access Community Advisory Committee of the Aspen Art Museum and the Basalt Public Arts Commission.

Liz holds a BS from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, and had an early career in the field of hotel and commercial real estate market analysis, appraisal, and evaluation. She lives in Basalt, Colorado.